Nutrient Reference Values

Nutrient Reference Values

Australia and New Zealand

The NRVs (Nutrient Reference Values) are a set of recommendations for nutritional intake based on currently available scientific knowledge.

The 2006 NRVs were a joint initiative of the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and the New Zealand Ministry of Health (NZ MoH).

The Australian Government Department of Health (formerly the Department of Health and Ageing) and the NZ MoH developed a methodological framework in 2015 to guide future reviews of priority NRVs. These are updated in accordance with the 2011 NHMRC standard for developing clinical practice guidelines. The revised NRV recommendations are submitted to the NHMRC for approval under Section 14A of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992.

NHMRC approved the revised NRV recommendations for fluoride on 21 November 2016 and sodium on 13 July 2017 under Section 14A of the NHMRC Act. The review of the fluoride and sodium NRVs were undertaken to pilot the application of the methodological framework. Supporting material to the revised NRV recommendations for fluoride and sodium can be found on the resources page. 

• NRV methodological framework (PDF, 1.1MB)

The supporting material including any literature reviews and evidence summaries are authored by the Australian Government Department of Health and NZ MoH.

For further information on the review please visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.

In March 2018, the Australian Government Department of Health commissioned NHMRC to continue the priority driven review of nutrients. This includes reviewing the evidence and updating the remaining fluoride and sodium NRVs not reviewed in 2016 and 2017, the iodine NRVs and all adequate intake NRVs for infants. These reviews will be undertaken using a phased approach, commencing with sodium and iodine in 2019. 

The review will be overseen by a Steering group advisory committee. Nutrient specific Expert working groups will also be engaged to advise on the review of each nutrient. 

Learn more about the Advisory committee and Expert working groups.